Surgical retractor device and method of use

Abstract

A surgical retractor device includes a frame and at least one retracting member configured for being secured to the collapsible frame. The retracting member is formed from a spring-biased rotatable member, a tension line secured at a proximal end to the spring-biased rotatable member, and a tissue securing member disposed at a distal end of the tension line. In certain embodiments, the surgical retractor may be collapsible and delivered laparoscopically to the resection site.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The field of the invention generally relates to surgical retractor devices. More particularly, the field of the invention pertains to surgical retractor devices capable of imparting a biasing force to a portion of tissue. In certain embodiments, the device may be administered laparoscopically.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]During many surgical procedures, a region of tissue such as an organ is cut or resected by the operating physician. In order to more fully expose a cutting or resection plane, it is known to retract or pull apart the cut tissue. For instance, one or more stay sutures may be secured to the tissue and the sutures may be pulled taught to open or expose the deepening resection plane. As one illustrative example, one known method of performing hepatic parenchymal transaction utilizes polypropylene stay sutures to expose the deepening transaction plane.[0003]The details of this operative technique are disclosed in Aloia et al., Two-Surgeon ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]In one preferred embodiment, each retracting member applies a substantially uniform biasing force during retraction of the tissue. Consequently, as additional tissue is resected, the biasing or traction force remains substantially constant. In this regard, there is no need to reposition the retracting members to apply a larger traction force to compensate for any slack in the system. The spring-biased rotatable member rapidly accommodates any slack that builds in the system as the resection operation proceeds.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, using the technique disclosed in Aloia et al., a single surgeon cannot dissect and / or coagulate the transected tissue while at the same time applying the necessary traction to the stay sutures to expose the deepening transaction plane.

The retraction device disclosed in Scott, however, is unsuitable for laparoscopic applications.

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